The post-Olympics surge in sporting interest has remained strong in some clubs but waned in others, our research suggests today.

Sporting clubs across Wales said shortly after the Games finished in August they’d seen a huge spike in interest and membership.

Club members pointed to the likes of boxing silver medallist Fred Evans as a Welsh athlete who had inspired youngsters.

It appeared to show that the Olympics’ motto “Inspire a generation” was living up to its billing and that its legacy – strongly promoted as one of the event’s main benefits – was being tangibly seen at grassroots level.

This month, we spoke to sports clubs again to see if that interest had waned or stayed strong. Most said it had stayed strong, suggesting the legacy continues to have a positive effect on their clubs.

Andrew Deans, Cardiff Triathletes chairman, said: “We have continued to witness a steady rise in membership since the Olympics.

“We now have more members than we have ever had and expect a further increase in the New Year.

“We have also experienced unprecedented interest, 32 inquiries so far, in our Try a Tri event scheduled for May 5.”

The Newport Velodrome – where the Team GB cycling team held its pre-Games training – said the year had been record breaking in terms of new interest.

A spokesman said: “More than 20,000 people used the track at the Wales National Velodrome in seven months – numbers that are already chasing down last year’s total. Since April this year, 20,671 cyclists have got on their bikes compared with 21,450 in the whole of 2011/12.”

A spokeswoman for Swim Swansea said: “We have definitely noticed an increase in the number of children wanting to join the club. We have two to five swimmers per week wanting to come for a trial. It helps that we have Georgia Davies involved at the club and the children also see Ellie Simmonds at the pool.”

And Marie Chezalier, Cardiff Handball Club president, said: “We had lots of interest at the end of the summer just following the Olympics. Since then it’s turned down a little bit but compared to last year, there is more interest.

“We have a lot more interest from British people whereas before it was more from the continent.”

But others said the Olympics had had no significant impact.

Cardiff-based San Domenico Road Runners Club chairman, Ian McDonald, said: “We have not seen a significant increase in new members due to the Olympics. Our new member uptake has been pretty consistent for the last two years.”

Erika Fitzgibbon, chair of Women Running Penarth, said: “Initially we probably did have, but it’s gone very quiet now towards Christmas because everyone’s very busy.”

Laura McAllister, chair of Sport Wales, said there had been some plateau to the initial enthusiasm – especially where sports clubs weren’t prepared for demand.

She said: “I think you’ve probably got a fair reflection of the overall picture. We know there’s some fantastic growth at clubs where they were really geared up to what they could expect after the Games.

“They recorded a lot more trainers and volunteers and soaked up the demand in a professional way and got children involved in things they enjoyed. But there were clubs that didn’t heed the warnings about a surge in interest, you had young people going along and weren’t equipped to do it in a sustainable way.”

She said there were now moves to make children more “physically literate” at the earliest possible stage in schools in Wales, as in such countries as Finland and Sweden.

“People assume it’s the simple equation of people being inspired by the Olympics and going along to a club. It’s getting schools and younger stage children involved so they are equipped in sports,” she said.

The Welsh Government said they always intended Wales to benefit from the Games.

A spokesman said: “It’s now up to us and our partners to harness this interest and ensure that all those inspired by the Games get the chance to get involved with their favourite sport or to try new ones – either simply just as a means of staying fit and healthy, or as a route to elite sport and competition.”

Next page: What the clubs said

What the clubs said:

Pembrokeshire Harriers

"The Olympics has had a very big impact on our club. There was a big interest at the end of the games from all age groups. Just now this has dropped and I hope it’s just the Christmas blip. I would think this will swell our numbers during the summer season when main interest is usually shown."

Sospan Road Runners & Power Walkers

"The Olympics had no impact on our membership sadly, but I do see more cyclists around the roads."

Newport Olympic Cycling Club

"Yes, it has had an impact."

Cardiff Triathletes

"Yes we have continued to witness a steady rise in membership since the Olympics. We now have more members than we have ever had."

Cambria Bowmen

"Yes most definitely. We’ve had to do three courses back to back just to keep up with the interest and demand."

St. Josephs Amateur Boxing Club

"Most definitely. Interest hasn’t waned at all."

San Domenico RRC, Cardiff

"We have not seen a significant increase in new members due to the Olympics. Our new member uptake has been pretty consistent for the last two years."

Llanelli Gymnastics Club

"Yes, sessions have doubled. We’re still going very well indeed."

Abergavenny Judo Club

"No, not really. Our club just sort of stays steady."

Neath Harriers

"No, I wouldn’t say so."

Maesteg Judokwai

"Yes, still strong."

Cardiff Handball Club

"We had lots of interest at the end of the summer just following the Olympics. Since then it’s turned down a little bit but compared to last year, there is more interest."

Wales Dressage

"Dressage in Wales is going from strength to strength. Membership has increased and I think the Olympics was definitely a positive thing."

Premier Amateur Boxing Club

"We’ve always been busy but we’ve got a lot of new ones. We have a new influx quite regularly."

Swim Swansea

"We have definitely noticed an increase in the number of children wanting to join the club. We have two to five swimmers per week wanting to come for a trial. It helps that we have Georgia Davies involved at the club and the children also see Ellie Simmonds at the pool."

Aberdyfi Rowing Club

"Over the short term, yes, in the few days after the Olympics. But we’ve had a general increase in membership over the past two years from 50 to 70 members but the Olympics hasn’t accelerated that at all."

Eryri Harriers

"We’ve got about 180 members, ours has gone down a little since last year. I’ve not really noticed a major difference."

Brecon Athletic Club

"We definitely have seen an increase. For example we’ve had to set up a satellite club because there’s lots of interest all over the country and there’s still a waiting list for our satellite club. All the clubs, including juniors and seniors, have increased."

Wrexham Athletics Club

"We certainly have. A lot of youngsters have joined. Normally at this time of year we have about 300 members and this year we have about 350."

Acme Wheelers, Rhondda

"You never get new members coming that regularly but we’ve certainly had increased interest and we’ve had new members right the way through."

Merthyr Tydfil Swimming Club

"We’re still having interest. We’ve had in the past month about five new members."

Prince of Wales Amateur Boxing Club

"Not really. We’ve moved gyms so it’s been quite a difficult time for us."

Women Running Penarth

"Initially we probably did have but it’s gone very quiet now towards Christmas because everyone’s very busy."

Velo Teifi Cycling Club

"We’ve seen an increase in people asking about cycling but not actually cycling. If I had £1 for everyone who asked me that question I’d be rich."

Newport Velodrome

"More than 20,000 people used the track at the Wales National Velodrome in just seven months – numbers that are already chasing down last year’s total. Since April this year, 20,671 cyclists have got on their bikes compared with 21,450 in the whole of 2011/12."

Bridgend Fencing Club

"We’ve had one or two new members but there hasn’t been a massive increase."

Planet Gymnastics, Cardiff

"It’s still going strong. We’ve had a steady increase since the Olympics."

Newport Cycling Club

"No, not particularly, I’d have to say."

Perriswood Archery and Falconry Centre

"Very little. At the tail end of the summer we may have had a couple of people in but very low numbers."

Taekwondo Wales

"We have yes. We now have more after school clubs and students joining because of the way taekwondo’s gone this year."

Rhondda Junior Tri-Starts (Rhondda Triathlon Club)

"Since the Olympics we’ve had about 10 more people. Probably because of the Olympics."

Cardiff Ladies Volleyball Club

"Some interest has dropped off but we’ve definitely kept a few. There was a peak in the summer months but I do think we benefited because we wouldn’t have the new members without it."

Outdoor Fitness Athletics Club Cardiff

"We’ve had a steady increase through the winter."

Carmarthen Judo Club

"We haven’t noticed any new members since the Olympics. It was all so far away and didn’t inspire any kind of sporting advance."

Newport Velo Youth Cycling Club

"The club has seen considerable increase in the number of young cyclists wishing to get involved in the sport since both the games and our beginners courses are fully booked until April 2013."

Pontypool Amateur Boxing Club

"Pontypool Boxing Club has seen a steady increase in people wanting to both compete and use boxing as a way to get fit. We have also seen a continued interest in women’s boxing."

Rhondda Paddlers

"Yes and they are happy to participate."

Carmarthen Harriers

"From September onwards we’ve had a big influx and all those who did come have stayed with us, so it’s been a busy autumn."

Aberdare Valley Amateur Athletics Club

"I couldn’t say."

* We managed to contact 39 of the original 50 clubs we contacted in August.